Interview stuff
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Cheers for the offerings guys. I rather like the one about the Captain, and the dress. No one I have tested it on has come back with the appropiate answer. Until I knew the "right" answer I was always thinking of answering it with tact, along the lines of "Sorry, I'm tired." 
Of course, if someone did answer with "Buy her a drink" I expect the interviewers would invariably turn round and say "oh, sorry I forgot to mention that the Captain's a man" to see your reactions?
ojs, thanks for the advice about the book. I have already swiped it off a friend that had a copy, and read it quite thoroughly.
Anyone else that has an interview coming up, this book is a god send. It helps with any stage of applying, including your CV, and is "Great answers to tough interview questions" by Martin Yate. Although I would hate to be on the receiving end of one of the 'stress' interviews that they detail may happen!
Of course, if someone did answer with "Buy her a drink" I expect the interviewers would invariably turn round and say "oh, sorry I forgot to mention that the Captain's a man" to see your reactions?ojs, thanks for the advice about the book. I have already swiped it off a friend that had a copy, and read it quite thoroughly.
Anyone else that has an interview coming up, this book is a god send. It helps with any stage of applying, including your CV, and is "Great answers to tough interview questions" by Martin Yate. Although I would hate to be on the receiving end of one of the 'stress' interviews that they detail may happen!
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There was no right or wrong answer to the captain/dress question. It's more about recognising equality on the flight deck etc.
I'd be inclined to ask whose round it was, just in case Captain Nigel's name really is Mandy, on a stopover.
As to the vodka bottle:
Are crew supposed to carry alcohol around open or unopened? If he reeks of vodka, ask if he's feeling well enough to operate the flight. If he says he his then you go sick?
I'd be inclined to ask whose round it was, just in case Captain Nigel's name really is Mandy, on a stopover.
As to the vodka bottle:
Are crew supposed to carry alcohol around open or unopened? If he reeks of vodka, ask if he's feeling well enough to operate the flight. If he says he his then you go sick?
PPRuNe Knight in Shining Armour
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The thing about Vodka is that it's the only spirit that you can't smell on the breath.......... <thinks back to teenage times drinking Vodka and Lime, yuk!>
Captain, I'm a bit nervous about this sector, can I have a quick snifter before we go!!!
Captain, I'm a bit nervous about this sector, can I have a quick snifter before we go!!!
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is it true though, that most people fall at the simple questions, rather than the stupidly awkward/hard/unnessisary questions?
My logic in this is; most interviewies prepare for the really hard questions, and spent time preparing for the unexpected, and forget about basics such as, why do you want this job? What can you bring to company? If i was giving an interview to a young potential, i know that if i asked a random stupid question, i would probably have only done it for my own amusement, and would ignore the response when deciding on the most suitable candidate.
I know i have forgotton on previous occasions to brush up on company knowlege, and why i want the job (although till now its always been: i need the money), and I have been going over the silly stuff in my head in the time leading up to the big day.
Having said that though, of all the interviews i've been to I have never been turned down - what a false sense of security that is! I'll let you know what Britannia have to say about me though
My logic in this is; most interviewies prepare for the really hard questions, and spent time preparing for the unexpected, and forget about basics such as, why do you want this job? What can you bring to company? If i was giving an interview to a young potential, i know that if i asked a random stupid question, i would probably have only done it for my own amusement, and would ignore the response when deciding on the most suitable candidate.
I know i have forgotton on previous occasions to brush up on company knowlege, and why i want the job (although till now its always been: i need the money), and I have been going over the silly stuff in my head in the time leading up to the big day.
Having said that though, of all the interviews i've been to I have never been turned down - what a false sense of security that is! I'll let you know what Britannia have to say about me though
High Wing Drifter,
If 'why do you want to be a pilot?' is a hard question to be put to someone in a PILOT interview then you would think that the interviewee should reconsider his/hers career choice.
If 'why do you want to be a pilot?' is a hard question to be put to someone in a PILOT interview then you would think that the interviewee should reconsider his/hers career choice.
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What an entertaining (and to be fair, usefull ) thread.
My views on some of the questions:
"I don't like Scotsmen. Discuss"
"why"? Let the interviewer come back at you. In any event it will be a generalisation and when that becomes apparent, point it out and agree to differ.
"Do you have a good sense of humour"?
"Yes"
"OK say something funny and make us laugh"
"I've heard there's a pilot shortage coming" That should make them smile!
"Tell me the last time you did something wrong"
So tell them. We're all human and make mistakes (Just don't make it a real clanger). The point is you then tell them how you either (a) realised the mistake, re-assessed your course of action and put it right or (b) had the mistake pointed out to you, re-assessed your course of action and put it right.
Cleared to FL150/160?
get back on the radio and ask for confirmation. If it was FL150 you got it wrong, dial in 150. If it was FL160, S/He got it wrong, dial in 160. Job done.
I've never been to an airline interview so
My views on some of the questions:
"I don't like Scotsmen. Discuss"
"why"? Let the interviewer come back at you. In any event it will be a generalisation and when that becomes apparent, point it out and agree to differ.
"Do you have a good sense of humour"?
"Yes"
"OK say something funny and make us laugh"
"I've heard there's a pilot shortage coming" That should make them smile!
"Tell me the last time you did something wrong"
So tell them. We're all human and make mistakes (Just don't make it a real clanger). The point is you then tell them how you either (a) realised the mistake, re-assessed your course of action and put it right or (b) had the mistake pointed out to you, re-assessed your course of action and put it right.
Cleared to FL150/160?
get back on the radio and ask for confirmation. If it was FL150 you got it wrong, dial in 150. If it was FL160, S/He got it wrong, dial in 160. Job done.
I've never been to an airline interview so
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Oops, too late, have I said too much?..............
There is a technique interviewers may use known as a silent gap.
Basically, they ask a question which could be a closed question (can be answered simply yes or no). However after you give your yes or no answer, they leave a long silence or pause.
This usually makes you feel uncomfortable enough to try and expand on your answer and be too honest.
Be concious if this is happening and if there is a silence, leave a short silence yourself then say sorry, did you want me to expand on that?
There is also something called the horns and halo effects.
The Horns effect quite simply is where an interviewer takes a less favour to you due to one of your hobbies,etc. So unless you are asked, try not to mention to the interviewer that you are a Leeds/ Man U/ Sheffield Wednesday supporter or anything else that would cause a conflict or debate accross a pub table.
The Halo effect is the opposite, ie when you have written on your CV you enjoy motocross in your spare time, and the interviewer is into the same thing.
There is a technique interviewers may use known as a silent gap.
Basically, they ask a question which could be a closed question (can be answered simply yes or no). However after you give your yes or no answer, they leave a long silence or pause.
This usually makes you feel uncomfortable enough to try and expand on your answer and be too honest.
Be concious if this is happening and if there is a silence, leave a short silence yourself then say sorry, did you want me to expand on that?
There is also something called the horns and halo effects.
The Horns effect quite simply is where an interviewer takes a less favour to you due to one of your hobbies,etc. So unless you are asked, try not to mention to the interviewer that you are a Leeds/ Man U/ Sheffield Wednesday supporter or anything else that would cause a conflict or debate accross a pub table.
The Halo effect is the opposite, ie when you have written on your CV you enjoy motocross in your spare time, and the interviewer is into the same thing.
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HWD, thats a bit vague. I guess you don't agree?
Basically, I can't answer that question without it sounding trite or somewhat conceited. But being a computer poorgrammer I never did have a way with words!
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Very good thread !
I'm going to put a spanner in the works now because we communicate around 80% using body language and about 20% verbal.
From the moment you walk into the interview, the interview itself and when you walk out you give off body language.
Get a book on body language, one which relates to interviews and work, study how to create a positive, confident impression on the person you are speaking with, believe me the interviewers are usually experts in this and can see all this..... e.g. you say your answer is "yes" but you eyes and face say no.....
Good luck
AG
I'm going to put a spanner in the works now because we communicate around 80% using body language and about 20% verbal.
From the moment you walk into the interview, the interview itself and when you walk out you give off body language.
Get a book on body language, one which relates to interviews and work, study how to create a positive, confident impression on the person you are speaking with, believe me the interviewers are usually experts in this and can see all this..... e.g. you say your answer is "yes" but you eyes and face say no.....
Good luck
AG
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I guess with the answer to "Why do you want to fly?" everyone finds it hard to put something that the interviewer hasn't heard a hundred times already that day. I'm pretty sure that an interviewer will be expecting "I've wanted to do it since I could think, and I use to just stand in the garden and watch the planes..." and so you get stumped about what to say because you don't want to bore them. But then again, I think its far more likely that alarm bells will sound to the interviewer if you don't answer passionately about how much you want to fly, and they'll have second thoughts about how committed you are.
I have heard some advice about body language (such as altering the angle of you chair to the person that speaks to you) but there is one thing that really frightens me. Sweaty palms. I really don't want them, but know I will. How do you surreptitiously wipe them before you shake hands. Maybe a bit of tissue, will help.
642VGS Is that Linton?
I have heard some advice about body language (such as altering the angle of you chair to the person that speaks to you) but there is one thing that really frightens me. Sweaty palms. I really don't want them, but know I will. How do you surreptitiously wipe them before you shake hands. Maybe a bit of tissue, will help.
642VGS Is that Linton?
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The other unfortunate thing is you don't knowwhat the interviewer is actually trying to get out of you.
Quite alot of the questions about cockpit situations are really quite simple after you have done a couple of years on the line.
I presme they are in there to stress you a bit and get you to start thinking on your feet and as such there is no correct answer but its how you handle being in a flap that they are looking at.
Also what interviewers are looking for in one company may be completely different for another.
What I have always done for all interviews be it Pilot, Engineering or IT contracting is do your home work on what ever company you want to work for. This begins as your writing your CV for that company, keep a set of notes and a log of what ou have told them and when you have applied etc. Then if you get an interview review the CV that you sent them (nothing worse than them asking you a question about information you had forgotten you had put on your CV). As a note it was 5 months after I sent my CV off before I got the phone call for my current job. Phone call on the Monday Interview on the Tuesday started the type rating a week later. Thankfully I had a copy of the CV that I had sent them even though i didn't need it.
Next thing is make sure your tech is up to speed. Some companys will go for technical questions big style and others won't I have heard of people having to do prop theory on a white board.
Then dress smart, polish shoes etc. First impressions do count.
Then be yourself.
The question i found hardest in my interview was " Why should I employ you?"
I gave the usual bull**** and then when I was flagging a bit I said "because I am a nice chap" at which point the interviewer said good thats what we are looking for and launched into what they were going to pay me.
So unless you have inside info about what the interviewer is looking for I wouldn't worry to much about the personal questions they are there to excite you and see how you handle stress. A totally unstressed panned responce will proberly be as much of a no no as a flapping sweating reaction.
You have to remember that all they are looking for is someone who is intelligent enough to pass a type/line rating/training with min training. A medical and Lic. Enough experence to satisfiy their insurance. And some one who isn't going to cause CRM problems every week. Someone that they could see going for a pint and a meal with if you get stuck down route.
MJ
Quite alot of the questions about cockpit situations are really quite simple after you have done a couple of years on the line.
I presme they are in there to stress you a bit and get you to start thinking on your feet and as such there is no correct answer but its how you handle being in a flap that they are looking at.
Also what interviewers are looking for in one company may be completely different for another.
What I have always done for all interviews be it Pilot, Engineering or IT contracting is do your home work on what ever company you want to work for. This begins as your writing your CV for that company, keep a set of notes and a log of what ou have told them and when you have applied etc. Then if you get an interview review the CV that you sent them (nothing worse than them asking you a question about information you had forgotten you had put on your CV). As a note it was 5 months after I sent my CV off before I got the phone call for my current job. Phone call on the Monday Interview on the Tuesday started the type rating a week later. Thankfully I had a copy of the CV that I had sent them even though i didn't need it.
Next thing is make sure your tech is up to speed. Some companys will go for technical questions big style and others won't I have heard of people having to do prop theory on a white board.
Then dress smart, polish shoes etc. First impressions do count.
Then be yourself.
The question i found hardest in my interview was " Why should I employ you?"
I gave the usual bull**** and then when I was flagging a bit I said "because I am a nice chap" at which point the interviewer said good thats what we are looking for and launched into what they were going to pay me.
So unless you have inside info about what the interviewer is looking for I wouldn't worry to much about the personal questions they are there to excite you and see how you handle stress. A totally unstressed panned responce will proberly be as much of a no no as a flapping sweating reaction.
You have to remember that all they are looking for is someone who is intelligent enough to pass a type/line rating/training with min training. A medical and Lic. Enough experence to satisfiy their insurance. And some one who isn't going to cause CRM problems every week. Someone that they could see going for a pint and a meal with if you get stuck down route.
MJ
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The question that nearly tripped me was....
"How would you say your friends percieve you?"
followed by something like
"we are all imperfect, if your friends could change an aspect of you what would they change? and why?"
I fudged my way through somehow.
"How would you say your friends percieve you?"
followed by something like
"we are all imperfect, if your friends could change an aspect of you what would they change? and why?"
I fudged my way through somehow.
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Hi,
I am a million miles away from attending my first airline interview so unfortunately I can't post any specific examples of questions which you might be asked, however I do currently hold a senior management position with a large public company, and as such I have a great deal of involvement in the recruitment and selection of staff.
While each organisation differs slightly in its approach to recruitment broadly the processes will be similar, and while I can't help you with SIM checks, I am experinenced in short listing, Psychometric testing, and interview technique.
These are all stages at which people fall down (up to 80 percent of candidates don't even make it past short listing) and I'd be happy to offer general advice to anyone that wants it.
Returning to the topic of this thread I just wanted to let you know that there are some great books out there which offer guidance on how to answer those tricky interview questions. One which I looked at the other day gave you an entire script for each question, and while I wouldn't recommend that you used it as such, the guidance given was actually very good.
I have to admit that it provided answers to a number of questions which I have asked people before now, and it certainly gave me ideas for questions which I will be asking people in the future!
Anyway if this is something which you are worried about it might be worth investing in a similar book. Could be the best 6 quid you ever spent!
That said, While reading books on all manner of interview techniques will help, (because you'll feel more confident in yourself) ultimately the best advice anyone can give you is just to be yourself.
The thing to remember is that essentially the interviewer wants you to do well. No doubt they will have already spent hours short listing applications, (and believe me this can be a soul destroying process) so by the time they actually get candidates to the interview, they are generally hoping to see that they have made the right choices!
The other thing to remember is that the panel will probably be interviewing a number of candidates, and after about the third one they will be desperately looking for someone to relieve their monotony.
The best way to do that is just be natural and enthusiastic. Believe me, some people can be very hard work, so if you can just adopt a natural approach, and display a real enthusiasm, you'll be half way there.
Kind regards,
I am a million miles away from attending my first airline interview so unfortunately I can't post any specific examples of questions which you might be asked, however I do currently hold a senior management position with a large public company, and as such I have a great deal of involvement in the recruitment and selection of staff.
While each organisation differs slightly in its approach to recruitment broadly the processes will be similar, and while I can't help you with SIM checks, I am experinenced in short listing, Psychometric testing, and interview technique.
These are all stages at which people fall down (up to 80 percent of candidates don't even make it past short listing) and I'd be happy to offer general advice to anyone that wants it.
Returning to the topic of this thread I just wanted to let you know that there are some great books out there which offer guidance on how to answer those tricky interview questions. One which I looked at the other day gave you an entire script for each question, and while I wouldn't recommend that you used it as such, the guidance given was actually very good.
I have to admit that it provided answers to a number of questions which I have asked people before now, and it certainly gave me ideas for questions which I will be asking people in the future!
Anyway if this is something which you are worried about it might be worth investing in a similar book. Could be the best 6 quid you ever spent!
That said, While reading books on all manner of interview techniques will help, (because you'll feel more confident in yourself) ultimately the best advice anyone can give you is just to be yourself.
The thing to remember is that essentially the interviewer wants you to do well. No doubt they will have already spent hours short listing applications, (and believe me this can be a soul destroying process) so by the time they actually get candidates to the interview, they are generally hoping to see that they have made the right choices!
The other thing to remember is that the panel will probably be interviewing a number of candidates, and after about the third one they will be desperately looking for someone to relieve their monotony.
The best way to do that is just be natural and enthusiastic. Believe me, some people can be very hard work, so if you can just adopt a natural approach, and display a real enthusiasm, you'll be half way there.
Kind regards,
Last edited by Damo29; 29th Apr 2004 at 19:28.